We live in a diverse community. The Families Task Force was created to look at what the needs of Westchester families are, how they are changing, and what we want the county legislature and the state delegation to know about Westchester families and have some influence on ways to improve family life. One initiative that the Task Force has been working on is resources on immigration rights and services.

There are resources to help you ensure your child's safety from lead. Lead is dangerous to everyone, but children six and under are at the greatest risk because lead can:

Slow a child's growth and development

Cause behavior and learning problems

Cause hearing and speech problems

At high levels, lead exposure may cause problems with the kidneys and the development of red blood cells, and may lead to seizures and death. However, most children have no symptoms when they are exposed to lead.

Last year's "Calls for Kids" Campaign was very successful, leading to the additional $1.6 million in the child care budget for 2018. Our "2019 Calls for Kids" Campaign will get underway in the fall, and we are hoping to recruit new child care programs! We are particularly eager to come hear parents about child care costs and to let them know how they can help advocate for more affordable child care.

If you would like us to come to your child care program, contact Sandra Arasim at (914) 761-3456 ext. 134 or sandraa@cccwny.org.

It is summer, and nothing says summer fun like playing in water. And children are not just splashing, they are learning so much! Water play is open ended - there are no right answers, just explorations and investigations.

Remember- Safety First At All Times! Children must be supervised closely at all times. A young child can drown in less than 2 inches of water. Infants and toddlers can safely play in small amounts of water only if an adult is with them at all times.

What are children learning when they play in water?

Fine Motor Skills - Water play encourages the development of eye/hand coordination through pouring, squeezing, stirring, painting, scrubbing, and squirting.

Concepts - Children begin to understand and experiment with concepts such as more/less, same/different, many/few, empty/full, before/after, greater than/less than, and counting.

Social and Emotional Development- Water is relaxing and soothing. Children become less tense when they release their emotions with pouring, pounding, and swooshing. They practice playing cooperatively, negotiating and sharing.

Language Development- Children learn new words - sieve, funnel, eggbeater, splash, pour, bubbly - and have conversations with adults and other children.

Creativity- Children use their imaginations as they cook, create mud castles, or wash cars.

Health & Safety Corner

Are you using safe sunscreen?

Not all sunscreens are safe, even the ones that are sold specifically for children.

Many sunscreens contain harmful ingredients that are health hazards. These harmful ingredients may result in hormone disruption, skin irritations, allergies, lung irritation and skin penetration, just to name a few.

This info is from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The attached is EWG's Guide to Safer Sunscreens. It contains which ingredients & products to look for and which to avoid. EWG rates the safety of sunscreens.

The best score is 1 and the worst score is 10. Click Here for the best scoring sunscreens.

Here are quick tips for choosing sunscreens:

No Spray Sunscreens

No Super-High SPFs (not greater than 50)

No Oxybenzone and other Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

No Retinyl Palmitate

No Combined Sunscreen/Bug Repellents

No Sunscreen towelettes or powders

No Tanning Oils

Click Here is more valuable information and resources from EWG. You can also search for information regarding the sunscreen you currently use.

"What I like best about working at the Council is knowing the work we do helps to improve the lives of children and families in our community." - Lindsay Tiernan, Assistant Director of Provider Services

"Overall, the Council is an amazing place to work with supportive staff and a mission that touches the lives of so many people in Westchester. However, the most touching moments I have experienced here have been because of their flexibility and support when it comes to their staff's personal lives. This sets them apart from any other place I've worked." - Michelle Guena, Communications Associate

Enjoy playing in the sand on August 11th or any day for that matter. Sand play helps develop fine motor skills, a sense of textures, and many other skills. Don't have a beach to visit? Bring some sand into your sensory table and let your children explore!